National Black Catholic Congress X:
Christ is With Us-Celebrating
the Gifts of the Sacraments,
July 12-15, 2007
In Buffalo, NY
A Personal Commentary
by Jacqueline E. Wilson - August, 2007
I estimate that there were about 2000 people, including a large number of youth and young adults, who attended and participated in Congress X. While the theme gave mixed messages, people were excited and felt very good about the presentations. Mixed message included the look back to the 2002 eight principles and action steps combined with trying to include a sacramental context did not always work for me. I did get the message that black and African American Catholic leadership wishes us to express our faithfulness to our Catholicity and bring it to the forefront.
Approximately half the people had never attended a Congress and were awed by meeting and sharing with the numbers of people who shared the same Catholic faith. As a past attendee and one of the past Congress leaders, I was grateful for the moments of prayer, of silence, of the Mass, Bible study, the music, the plenary talks, of greeting people whom I had not seen since Congress IX five years ago. Though I did not attend everything, I did think that these were precious moments. The well-attended Bible study was very appropriate because we Catholics are accused of not knowing or believing in the Bible. Scripture is fundamental to our beliefs and catechesis.
There were certainly different viewpoints on the success of the Congress for those who have attended congresses before. The disappointment I felt was that there were not enough working sessions that helped people to get into the principles and the action steps or even make the connections with what has been done and what needs to be done. I attended several workshops: Darfur, a bible study, “Secret Genocide in Our Community” and a few others. Good presenters, et al. However, there were too many good workshops at the same time and it was difficult to make choices.
The Youth Tracks and the Young Adult Tracks appeared to be very interesting but I really wished there were more times when the gatherings at lunch, workshops could be more intergenerational. There is great value in our crossing paths and speaking with each other. I felt a great disconnect with our young people. We did not seem to make eye contact or have conversation. Maybe I missed something.
The symbols of the sacraments were hung as backdrop for the plenary sessions. Various Adinkra symbols were used to portray the 7 sacraments. But there was for me a disconnect between the very commendable Leadership Commissions on each of the eight principles and the theme of the conference. A great idea! It was confusing to grasp the total content and importance in the midst of the sacramental themes. While there were several workshops on the Principles, there could have been more without the competition with the sacramental emphasis. The sacraments themselves could fill 3 days of a Conference. I am not against the sacraments, just against the mixed focus.
**The most valuable fruit of the Congress is, I believe, the National Agenda of the Leadership Commissions. (Reference: pp. 44-65 of the Program Booklet) I am following these for leadership in activity at the diocesan and parish levels. These could have been the single focus of the entire Congress with many new exciting models and leadership “how-to-do-it” presented in smaller workshops. Also commendable are the references to the prophetic booklet “What We Have Seen and Heard” {on evangelization in the black community by the Black bishops in 1984.} This is a timeless statement as true today as yesterday. I feel that we dismiss or throw out many prophetic documents because they are “old.” Can you buy this anywhere? I am carefully guarding my copies, worn, marked up, soiled with use, and yellowed as they are!!
Location: Historically speaking, this was a good location for the Congress. It was one of the routes for the Underground Railroad during slavery times, and nearby Niagara was the location of the first NAACP movement meetings. The Diocese of Buffalo (Bishop Kmiec) and its Office of Black Ministry, directed by Mrs. Brenda Easley-Webb, were good hosts. There was plenty of space in the two main Congress locations. All hotels were conveniently located. Except for the first night when I and others had to stay at Doubletree a distance away for free, accommodations were excellent. We were notified a couple of days before the Congress. Transportation was very good and was convenient given the large crowd and different hotel locations.
Meals: The meals were satisfactory and the idea for box lunches was convenient with the snack bar nearby for those who wanted variety. I did not go to breakfast but I heard it was ok. Hotel meals where I stayed were very good (Adams Mark) and gave good quiet “away” time.
Let us pray for real action on the Principles to improve the quality of life throughout the United States of America.